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Round 3: Big Buck GNCC AMA WISECOIYAMAHAIDUNLOP/FMFIMOOSE GRAND NA TIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES By Davey Coombs Photos by Greg Mitchell CROSS ANCHOR, SC, MAR. 21 eam Honda's Scott Summers was able to put a stop to KTM upstart Shane Watts' winning ways by scoring the overall victory at the Big Buck 100, round three of the GNCC Series, held near Cross Anchor, South Carolina. Summers, a five-time GNCC Series Champion, emerged 'on top on the last lap following a fierce four-man struggle for the lead. That tussle included Watts, the winner of the previous two rounds; Mike Lafferty; and Team Green's Fred Andrews. "It feels really good to win a thriller like this," said a happy Summers in the winner's circle. "1 should really thank the fans, becau e 1 heard them screaming out there the whole way around. 1 didn't even realize that 1 was leading on that last lap because 1 didn't know if 1 had passed Shane. I must have passed him in the pits or a mudhole, but then he passed me and we started going back and forth. It was a good one." After the duo of Summers and Watts had broken away from Lafferty and Andrews in the closing miles, Watts made a last-ditch effort to pass Summers, only to cartwheel in an open section. Watts remounted with time to spare on the other pursuers to take the runner-up finish and firmly hold on to the points lead. Andrews kept Lafferty off the podium once again, leading the two-time AMA National Enduro Champion across the finish line with 45 seconds to spare. Defending GNCC number-one Rodney Smith was a steady fifth for most of the afternoon in the 26-man Pro class. "1 thought I would be able to catch and pass Scott right there a t the very «E end," Watts said. "We were really on the hammer with a mile to go until I ~ crashed. We. got to a big, fast stretch tha t 4: had a few holes and all, and 1 get a little 28 bit psycho sometimes. I just know T (Above) Riders prepare for the start of the Cross Anchor GNCC in South Carolina. (Right) Scott Summers scored the . overall win. where the gas is, and I got a little too much and had a big cartwheel. I'm just happy I was able to get back up and get second. It was a great ride for all four of US up front, and 1 really enjoy this type of racing." "1' d really like to thank my new mechanic, Corey Parlin, and congratulate him on his first win," Summers said. "And my manager, Fred Bramblett, of course. He's like the 'Jerry Maguire' of the industry now, but he's always there for me." The Big Buck trail was laid out by Racer Productions' Buren Hamrick and Jeff Russell. The course measured approximately 9.5 miles and was in great shape. A brief overnight shower settled the dust for Sunday's motorcycle events. With the temperatures in the low 60s and the skies partly cloudy, the conditions were superb for a sprmg race. As for the trail itself, Summers described it as a "typical southeastern trail - red clay, rooted and tight, plus some open, high-speed sections for passing." Each lap also featured a pair of creek jumps for the spectators' viewing enjoyment. Andrews, on the Team Green/Pro Circuit-backed Kawasaki, pulled the holeshot and was followed closely by his teammate Paul Edmondson, Team Green's Jim Jarrett, and the Suzukis of Rodney S!Uith and Steve Hatch. At the end of the abbreviated first lap, it was Andrews still out in front, with Lafferty moving into second, followed by Edmondson, Summers, Smith and Watts. But things started going sour for Edmondson. Second in the point standings going into the South Carolina race, Edmondson suffered a clogged overflow line from the gas tank; because of this, it took the Brit a while to figure out that he had run out of petrol. He pushed the number-five Suzuki into the pits, refueled and rode off again, only to discover that the problem was not a lack of fuel, but rather vapor-lock due to the clogged line. By the time the sputtering engine's ca use was discovered, Edmondson was too far back to salvage any points. He withdrew completely. Meanwhile, up front, Summers was on the move. "1 had my usual bad start, so I just kind of hung back at first and spent a lot of time riding with Mike Lafferty," said Summers of the early going. "He was riding really well, and tha t helped me settle down and find a pace while we moved up to the leaders." Watts also had another bad start even worse than Summers'. "The bike didn't fire and 1 was last off the line," said Watts, who has made coming up from behind a habit so far in